Emmanuel Chukwuma, Anglican bishop of Enugu diocese, has faulted remarks by Chris Ngige, minister of labour and productivity, that the federal government has spent a whopping N1 billion naira on the burial of Alex Ekwueme, former vice president of Nigeria, who died on November 19, 2017.
Archbishop Chukwuma made the observation during a commendation service for the late elder statesman in Enugu on Monday, January 29, 2018.
Dr. Ngige had claimed that Muhammadu Buhari led administration over has spent N1 billion since taking over the former vice president’s medical bills while he was sick, and even after his death.
The archbishop described the Federal Government’s claims as “unacceptable.”
He said the Federal Government should explain “what, where and how” the N1bn was spent.
Chukwuma was quoted saying: “Ekwueme, being a man of accountability, the Federal Government must give account on how the N1bn was spent.
“We are happy that the government is giving him a befitting burial, but one thing is that people should emulate the legacies he left behind.
“It is not good to say all sorts of things without emulating the legacies he left behind.”
The cleric further described Ekwueme as a ‘great politician’ who will never be forgotten in Nigeria’s history.
Before his death, Ekwueme worshiped in Chukwuma’s parish — the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Independent Layout, Enugu.
